Sample the Awesome '50 Years of Reggae Music' Box Set

The VP record label has been the gold standard for contemporary reggae and dancehall ever since Beenie Man asking "Who Am I?" wasn't a rhetorical question. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's independence, they're reaching waaaayyy back into the vaults for what may be the most comprehensive reggae box set in the history of time, Out of Many, 50 Years of Reggae Music. In a Rhino-ready feat of pure nerdery, its three discs feature exactly one iconic song representing every year since 1962. Hearing it in full is like experiencing a Koyaanisqatsi-styled time blur, hearing ska evolve into rocksteady and Augustus Pablo's dub; roots reggae adopting electronics and evolving into King Jammy's dancehall; and ultimately hip-hop infiltrating the party and churning out crossover superstars like Sean Paul and Elephant Man. When we finally arrive at 2012, we appropriately get a delectible piece of Retromania from Brooklyn's own Peetah Morgan and upcoming "tropical pop" artist Hollie Cook, a cover of Lord Creator's classic "Independent Jamaica." Hear that song and see the unstoppable 50-years-in-50-tracks that play as its opening act!